North West Provincial Government
STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS TO THE NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE PRESENTED BY PREMIER B.E.E MOLEWA ON THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE LEGISLATURE
DATE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008
Honourable Speaker of the Provincial Legislature; Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature; Honourable members of the Executive Council Leaders of Political Parties Honourable Members of the National Assembly; Honourable Members of the National Council of provinces; Judge President and Members of the Judiciary Heads of our Security Agencies; Mayors and leaders in our system of Local Government; Our Honoured Traditional Leaders, Chairpersons of state organs supporting our democracy Resident Public Service Commissioner; The Director-General and leaders of administration in all spheres of government; Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of State-Owned Enterprises; Members of the Diplomatic Corps Leaders of labour movement, civil society, faith-based organisations and business Honoured guests, friends, comrades and fellow South Africans; On the occasion of the 2008 January 8 statement of the African National Congress, the consolidated directive contained in its historic manuscript, amongst many other critical statements, emphasized the importance of:
“Recalling the heroic and selfless acts of countless South Africans who, over several decades, fought with determination and principle for peace, democracy and human and people's rights. They remain an example and inspiration to successive generations of freedom fighters as they grapple with the challenges of a changing terrain of struggle”.
In this regard we would like to take this opportunity to recognise some among the many people who contributed enormously in ensuring that we continue to reap the fruits of democracy. These are;
• Job Tabane better known as Casius Maake who served selflessly in the struggle for liberation and was assassinated by the apartheid forces in Swaziland in 1987 and was buried in Lusaka, • Bishop Nkwe who recently passed on having served for 28 years as our Anglican Church Bishop at Matlosana, and indeed a dedicated community builder, • Rre Kukama who is a veteran of our struggle for liberation and a resident of our province here at Montshioa. Added to these distinguished South Africans, we take this opportunity to acknowledge the following people who are making a difference in our society: • Mr. Hannes Schutte – a selfless dedicated businessman who has always been keen and determined to work with government in building integrating and coordination structures bringing people from all races together , • Mme Maria Seleke – The Female farmer of the Year, lives in Koffiekraal. Her project is Seleke Vegetables and has never received any financial assistance but managed to expand her projects through her daily sales. • Bophirima District Municipality – the Vuna Award winners in 2007 for being the best District Municipality in the Province and the Country. • Riky Munnick, the retired CEO of Mmabana Arts Council, who is a renowned community builder • We also recognize the excellent job done by our police under the able leadership of Provincial Commissioner Beetha. I would also want to single out a ten- member team led by Director Mabula that performed excellently in breaking the bone of ritual killings in our province. • Sadly, we recognise also the deaths of Dikgosi Lekoko Moiloa Sedumedi
All these distinguished people functioned within a paradigm that actively cultivated human solidarity, as one of the key mechanisms to free our people from the economic and spiritual subjugation of oppression.
Today, the challenges defining the evolution of struggle on the social, political and governance terrain, calls for a resolute return to the ideals that our pioneering forebears lived and died for.
These ideals become even more critical during this current epoch of a transition that has already begun to stir and test the soul of nation.
In this regard, our responsibility from here onwards is to ensure that we sustain the values and ideals of our forebears, as a critical means to give hope and inspire a unity of purpose at all levels in our society.
Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest humanists and thinkers of our time, captured these sentiments with great poise and accuracy when he asserted that: " The things that will destroy us are: Politics without principle; Pleasure without conscience; Wealth without work; Knowledge without character; Business without morality; Science without humanity; and Worship without sacrifice" These sentiments also speak to the foundations on which the struggle for freedom and democracy were built. In this context, an acknowledgement that all our actions, if not grounded on values that will build society as well as our fellow man, will ultimately lead to our destruction.
I believe that these imperatives of solidarity will sustain us in the same way in which our forebears were sustained during the oppressive reign of apartheid terror.
We therefore stand here today as a province and party that is not only historically conscious of what we have achieved during this electoral term of governance. We stand here today to account to our nation and fallen cadres, whether we have truly served the interest of our people with the resources at our disposal and the constraints in our path.
The mandate of this government, was set in motion by the historic “people’s contract to create work and fight poverty”
This historic directive was underpinned by a series of critically analyzed objectives and solutions, which were fundamentally cognizant of the need to accelerate growth and development in the second decade of democracy.
Last year we gave an elaborate account of how we have moved since 2004 in our mid- term review and indicated our achievements and challenges on critical economic and development indicators. Today, we humbly submit to our people on the ground; whom we have served diligently thus far to further fulfill the promises we made in 2004: We maintain unpretentiously, that we remain fully accountable to the masses.
This State of The Province Address therefore, will trace back our footprints to where it began, when we put before the masses, a people’s contract to create work and fight poverty.
In continuing the momentum of the first decade of freedom, we have progressively moved on our path to weave back together the threads of a dignified human existence for our nation. We are therefore confidently surging forward to intensify the momentum, in order to free the previously suppressed human and economic potential of our people.
APEX of Priorities
Madam Speaker, the NW province participated in the formulation of the “BUSINESS UNUSUAL” 24 APEX of Priorities as was announced by the President in his State of the Nation Address on 08 February 2008. We have included these in our programmes and committed to, amongst others, ensuring social transformation by:
• Accelerating delivery to the poor, and poverty eradication • Acceleration of economic growth and development • Building infrastructure that will support economy growth • Improving the effectiveness of interventions directed at the second economy • Build critical and scarce skills, • Building the capacity of the state, and • Build a state that is safe and secure for all its inhabitants.
Madam Speaker, before I give details of how the business unusual 24 APEX priorities are going to unfold in the province, I feel obliged to report on progress made in the last year on broad cluster programmes.
MACRO PROVINCIAL ANALYSIS
Madam Speaker, our provincial barometer indicates that after many years of fluctuating growth performances, the economy has stabilized substantially. Overall the province has been registering steady economic growth and prosperity. Our Gross Domestic Product in constant 2000 prices has grown from R 58 billion in 1996 to more than R72 billion in 2006. Since the launching of our PGDS in 2004 the economic growth per annum consistently outperformed the annual population growth of the province registering growth rates of 3.6%, 4,9% and 4,3%, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively.
According to Labour surveys, the number of jobs increased from 835 000 in September 2004 to 913 000 in March 2007. This represents a growth of 9.3% in 2½ years and an improvement in job creation of 78 000. This growth is much higher than the average population growth of approximately 1% per annum during the same period.
Unfortunately the absolute number of the poor is still increasing and reminding us that the struggle is not over. It is encouraging to note however that the proportion of moderately poor households has begun to decrease from 56.6% in 2004 to 50.0% in 2006. This improvement is also registered in the improvement of our Human Development Index from 0.53 in 2004 to 0.56 in 2006.
Once the immediate challenges around electricity provision and service delivery in our towns are successfully met, the prospects for economic growth in the North West look good.
Uranium is expected to play a very important role in future energy provision in the World. With the gold and platinum prices buoyant at all time highs above $900 and $1500, respectively and the weaker Rand, our mines are indeed looking forward to a great future.
Economic growth is a key component when viewed in light of our equity and redistribution objectives. Together with this, poverty alleviation in the short term is made possible by giving the poor opportunities to participate in the mainstream of the economy. But before they can begin to participate in opportunities at their disposal, their social needs must be at the forefront of government’s poverty alleviation interventions.
Review of Social Transformation and Delivery 2007 North West Community Survey:
The final results of Statistics South Africa’s Community Survey, which was recently completed indicates in terms of access to basic services that:
• 90% of households have access to piped water • 82,3 % use electricity as a source of domestic power • 57,1% of our people have access to refuse removal • 90,1% have access to sanitation above RDP standards • In terms of the Presidential targets for bucket removal, the province has successfully eradicated all bucket toilets that were identified as 1994 backlogs
Sadly, we all know that a task of eradicating buckets, such as that of eliminating shacks, is an endlessly moving target. For every shack removed, another one or more mushroom elsewhere. For instance, by the end of November 2007, 16 500 buckets were eradicated across NMM, BDM, Maquassi Hills and Matlosana Municipalities. And yet another large number has mushroomed in the same municipalities.
We have moved over many hurdles and battled the hard and unfriendly terrains of underdevelopment, in order to ensure that we serve our people to the best of our ability. Even this commitment is not sufficient. Our pace has to be accelerated to ensure that we do not lose momentum.
Social Development Matters
Madam Speaker, Our mandate in the context of a developmental state remains unchanged and continually gravitates towards the objective to improve the quality of life of the poor. In this sense, the Social Development Cluster priority programmes have been instrumental in pushing back the frontiers of poverty since 2004, as a continuation of the priorities of a developmental state that were adopted as ageless values in the developmental trajectory of our country.
We have managed to expand social services delivery in the province particularly to the rural areas. These services encompass a broad range of programmes that include improved access to Education, Health, Social Development, Sports and Arts and Culture. Through the provision of these services, we have been able to keep intact the onslaught in the fight against poverty.
We had also announced the development of our NW Strategy for Poverty Alleviation which was finalized in 2007. We have moved with an implementation plan, including the formation of a dedicated WAR ROOM on poverty, similar to that articulated by the President in his recent State of the Nation Address.
The NW provincial government has designed integrated strategies, plans, policies, projects, and programmes that are currently addressing social transformation matters in a coherent and holistic manner.
In terms of access to social grants, we have substantially silenced the hunger pangs of poverty, by extending our safety net to include those most vulnerable in our society.
In 2004 we had a total of 1 156 562 qualifying beneficiaries registered for child, elderly and special grants. By the end of 2007, that figure rose to 1, 536, 173.
The migration of the Early Childhood Development Programme from the Department of Education to the Department of Social Development has been completed. We have also increased intake of learners and educators as part of massification of EPWP employment creation initiatives within the Social sector.
The Secure Care Centers that we undertook to establish have been completed. Further elaboration on the benefit derived from such secure and other social centers in dealing with our existing social challenges such as substance abuse, child support, etc will be elaborated upon by the relevant cluster MECs.
Improving Access to Health Services During this financial year, we have also made great strides with regards to the preservation of the health of our people, with evidence indicating a decline in the percentages of life threatening diseases such as HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis.
• The TB programme has been intensified to increase coverage by 25%, extending to include schools. Social mobilization is being done through the Aventis door-to-door campaigns and music festivals. As a result the TB cure rate has now increased to a remarkable 72%. We are working hard to improve this figure. • The implementation of the comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan in all the hospitals is taking place in phases, with a total of 11 437 clients receiving the Anti-Retroviral treatment. • We have now managed to establish 715 operational Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) sites, against the target of 665. The uptake of VCT therefore increased from 84% to 91%. This is also a notable achievement showing that attitudes toward Voluntary Counseling and Testing are changing. • We have trained 165 peer educators to provide HIV/AIDS education at schools and in addition, trained 130 Further Education and Training educators, while a further 2350 young educators benefited from nursing training including university degrees • During the year 2007, we also provided effective Home Based Care to a record 385 000 beneficiaries. The number of Home Based Care organisations has subsequently increased to 414 and attached to these organisations are 4960 caregivers. We have thus succeeded in extending care to ailing individuals in the province, while still widening the reach through the increase of Home Based Care organisations in the province. This is a vast increase from what we had in 2004.
Housing delivery Madam Speaker, in 2004 we built a total number 10, 484 houses. By 2007 this number had increased to 21, 642 per annum. Since the delivery of the 2007 state of the province, an additional 9779 units were completed. This is indicative of the accelerated pace of delivery that we have advanced to as compared to the 2004 standards.
The impact of housing delivery is felt by the neediest in our communities. Mrs. Masego Seboko of Setlagole Village, outside Mafikeng, depits a real life story that I believe must be told. She is part of a community that has benefited 1700 houses collectively as a result of government’s housing delivery.
For many years Masego lived with her blind mother, Virginia (60) and five siblings including her two children at the nearby New-Stands settlement. She lived a life of despair, dreading the changing seasons that made life unbearable in a shack.
She finally moved into her own house on the 1st of January 2008 and this is what she had to say about her new house:
“I now feel like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I no longer have to worry about the weather and I can now live a free life like everybody. It’s time for me to focus on positive things,” says Masego.
There is indeed room for improvement but today our people have reason to break forth into singing such as what is shown by Masego Seboko and her family. We will continue to progressively move towards the attainment of true freedom from poverty and depravity.
Madame Speaker and Honourable Members, I would like to take a few moments to address this House on progress made on the Economic Big Bang Programmes.
ECONOMIC BIG BANG PROJECT PERFORMANCE Western frontier corridor MIDZ
This project is advancing mainly within the transport sector with the conclusion of the airport renovation and expansion concluded and One Flying School is already in operation. Successful Air Shows are held on an annual basis. Bulk services installation will also be completed this year. The Economic Cluster jointly with Mafikeng and District Municipalities and the MIDZ board are hard at work promoting this airport and attracting investors. We will proceed with a vigorous partnership and potential investments with our friends in Hennan Province of China.
Taung Intergrated Develpoment programme
The Taung Integrated Development consists of the Taung Tourism Development, Taung Dam and Heritage Site, the Taung Irrigation Scheme and the road infrastructure programme.
Madam Speaker, the Taung Integrated Development programme is a transversal project that runs across four departments (DACE, IDT, Public Works and Transport). In order to accelerate the implementation of this project, it is imperative that the relevant departments work in a more integrated manner. It is therefore pertinent, that they must organize themselves into a project team for the purpose of integrating all processes and functions concerned with this project, to achieve our ultimate objective of improving the regional economy.
Taung Tourism Initiatives
This project involves the linking of economic activities to tourism in a manner that will induce shared growth in the regional economy, which includes initiatives such as the development of the Taung Skull Museum, the fencing of the Heritage site and the annual hosting of the NW Calabash. The Taung Hotel will be further developed and converted to a Hotel school to cater for further Tourism developments. We intend building the Taung Skull Museum to accommodate the Skull for tourists.
Taung is one of the few early homicid sites for which the associated fauna suggests an open savannah environment. This site is a serial nomination with Makapansvalley and Cradle of Humankind because of the characteristics on the discovery of the Skull.
This three year programme is continuing and the relevant MECs will give detailed updates on these programmes.
Taung Irrigation Scheme
Production of barley is still ongoing, with SAB still being the main buyer. Given the collapse of pivots in the Taung Irrigation scheme, the department must focus on real expansion of this irrigation scheme as initially planned and also spend the allocated amount of R3, 1m to revive these collapsed pivots. Cattle Beneficiation
We have developed a business plan with potential investors to kick start the project of cattle beneficiation during 2008/09 financial. A provisional amount of R4m has been allocated for infrastructure development. Land Affairs is currently acquiring some 20 000 hectares for the project to take off. Several cooperatives are also being established in the province to ensure adequate and quality production.
Our emerging farmers will also be involved in the total value chain of beef production. It is estimated that R96m will be required for fencing, planted pastures, fire belts, fire equipments and livestock handling facilities.
In order to give impetus to this project, the Department will provide all the required support to all cooperatives in the province involved in livestock improvement programmes, veterinary services support on a regular basis, as well as all fencing, water infrastructure and required fire breaks.
Modimong
The House will recall that in 2006, we launched the Modimong Integrated EPWP project alongside existing projects, in order to contribute to our job creation and poverty alleviation efforts. Although we have experienced difficulties with regards to a lack of financial management and labor intensive skills, I can report that the project is 99% complete, with the exception of the housing and internal roads project.
Through this project, we have trained 9 116 people, from whom 368 were absorbed in the project, taking advantage of the job opportunities created. Although we are unable to absorb all trainees who benefit from the EPWP training opportunities, they were able to walk away with valuable skills that they can utilize in the long term.
Modimola
The Modimola Integrated EPWP Project was completed in 2006. Currently the Learnerships Contractors are involved in concluding a road upgrading project as apart of the exit strategy. This project created 89 job opportunities.
Tosca
The Tosca project was announced in 2006 state of the province address as the next target with the same objectives as the Modimong project. The inception report and business plan is completed. Development has commenced with the first phase of scoping community stakeholders was also done. This three-year project will be finalized during this financial year.
TREASURE ROUTE Bloemhof Dam Development The Bloemhof Dam project is also in its implementation stage. A comprehensive development plan and bio-diversity study has been completed. The relevant departments must be hard at work negotiating with private partners to follow on investments in this development.
Vrede Fort Dome Project
Vredefort Dome represents a unique geological phenomenon of international significance, representing a portion of the vast Vredefort meteorite impact structure formed about 2 billion years ago and regarded as the oldest and largest impact structure on earth. Because of this unique geological phenomenon, an area has been created which is, ecological speaking, unique and has unsurpassed aesthetics.
Progress to Date
o Developed the Sense of Place for the site. (This is a tool that advices on the mood, values, feelings and personal symbolic meaning individuals and groups have about a place, and this has to be integrated in the planning and definitions given to the site). o Developed a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the site (This decision- making tool, a formalized, systematic and comprehensive process of evaluating the environmental impacts of a plan or programme and its alternatives. It assists in integrating environmental implications into decision-making). o We have been able to manage the rate of development on the side of NW Province. o Business plan for the Upgrading of Infrastructure and Services for the site has been completed. o Road Master plan for the upgrading of roads in the Dome will be completed in June this year.
The Minister of DEAT will appoint Management Authority for the Vrede Fort Dome Project in consultation with ours and the Free State provinces. Science Park
The Science Park Project is also currently in its implementation stage. We have a partnership with NWU in order to create entrepreneurial innovation for the province. The site identified and initial architectural plans are currently being developed.
Vaalkop Dam Development Project
This project is continuing and a total of R500 000 has been allocated for the implementation of this project during this MTEF period.
PLATINUM CORRIDOR Mining Supplier Park The project is led by the municipality coordinated by the INW and is ready to move into implementation phase. An agreement by Mining Houses will be signed in the current year to seal the provincial partnership on development. A total of R10 m has been allocated to this project for the coming financial year. Platinum beneficiation projects
The Platinum Beneficiation Project is now in its implementation stage. A trust was established (PTSA) and a company registered to beneficiate Platinum into jewellery products. We are confident that the land agreement between Rustenburg Municipality and the Trust will be finalized as well as the Park where offices and jewellery centers will be built. A further agreement between the province and Canada will also be finalized to complete a Platinum Theme Park. The Business Incubation center, which is located at Orbit College is up and running.
Granite beneficiation project
The granite project is located in Bethanie where a Belgian Investor has shown interest to invest pending continuous availability of raw material. R40 m has been allocated to this project for this MTEF period. The project is currently in its implementation stage. We are also in constant contact with the Department of Minerals and Energy to assist in the realization of this project.
MADIKWE, SUPINGSTAD/ MOLATEDI ANNECDOTE.
Job creation experience as told by our people around this area. Contrary to doubts expressed by some, we are gradually making progress in job creation. Let me share with you a story related to me by a resident of Molatedi village: “Unemployment used to be so high in our area. The establishment of the 31 lodges in the Madikwe Game Reserve has created so many jobs in our area. Ba ba sa berekeng ba itira”.
This attests to the fact that through the local economic development initiatives arising from tourism in the area, we have made strides in eradicating poverty and unemployment.
In light of the business unusual projects, we are called upon to do more with limited resources to find innovative mechanisms to fund our future job creating projects and growing our economy.
The North West Growth Fund
Last year we announced the establishment of a Growth Fund which will serve as a channel for private participation in enhancing economic infrastructure growth and development. We are pleased to announce that government has committed an amount of R50m and that private sector (DBSA/FNB/INCA) has invested a further R250m. We have also engaged the mining sector in the province and they are very eager to come on board.
Economic Infrastructure Roads
A recent survey on the state of our roads network reveals that there are 5,225 million vehicle kilometres travelled annually on our provincial roads, of which 88% are travelled on our paved or tarred roads.
However, over the period of three years from 2004, there has been a continuous deterioration of both paved and gravel roads. Over and above what the state contributes in road construction and maintenance thereof, it is clear that we need to find creative ways of mobilising more resources through partnerships and joint ventures with the business community in order to augment the current budget provisions. In this regard, the MEC will elaborate a strategy on how this initiative will be realised.
This will go a long way to improve our total investment of R578 million for 2008/2009, which includes R170m for ongoing projects, new priority projects to the value of R191m and R127m for the maintenance of the current infrastructure.
Agricultural Infrastructure
In order to give impetus to live stock safety and cooperative development, the department of agriculture, as part of its live stock improvement strategy, will also improve fencing, water infrastructure and fire breaks, in order to assist cooperatives to practice sound natural resource management.
There is still much room for improvement. Many of our people still have to be assisted in the creation of employment. This assistance is given through skills development in the key growth sectors of our provincial economy, and opportunities created in both the public and private sectors.
I believe that we are still on course in terms of steadily picking up the momentum and growth of the NW provincial growth trajectory. The context from which we emerge must also be viewed collectively with our efforts to grow the economy. Land and Agrarian Reform
The total land reform targets for both restitution and redistribution stands at 294 000 hectares as at March 2007.
Since 1994 to March 2007, the provincial government has transferred 216 000 hectares of land under various land reform services. This has benefited over 10 000 households. This land relates to housing, tenure upgrades and farm settlement.
The needs exceed the available land in the province, this therefore means that we have to use various innovations to satisfy this land hunger particularly in the area of communal land rights.
Anti Stock Theft Programme
This programme was conceptualized after rising levels of livestock were recorded in the province. Since its inception, stock theft levels have decreased to very low levels per annum as compared to 4% in 2003. The salient features of the anti-stock theft programme consist of the following sub-programmes, which have been implemented successfully to date and will continue to be implemented: 1. Multipurpose Livestock Handling Facilities 2. Pounds Bill 3. Anti-Stock Theft Bill 4. Road Fencing
AGRI-BEE The DACE has thus far trained 80 Agri-BEE in the four District Municipalities as part of the contribution towards massification of the black economic empowerment programme. Their responsibilities will include train-the-trainers and they will be responsible roll out of the Agri-BEE charter in the province.
Climate change and sustainable development
Although South Africa is still a developing economy, our dependence on coal-driven energy sources and the energy intensity nature of our economy have resulted in an extremely high carbon emission level per unit of gross national product, compared to the rest of the world. We have emission levels equivalent to that of developed nations such as the United Kingdom. We are also located in one of the regions most susceptible and vulnerable to climate change, and we appear already to be experiencing the early effects of global warming and climate variability.
Over the next five years it will therefore be imperative that the sectors clear, coordinated and innovative in its own approach to these complex cross-cutting issues. It will also have a vital role to play in both championing and coordinating government activity in these two areas.
Promoting Equal and Fair Access to Opportunities Support to SMMEs
Honourable Members, in terms of continuing the 2004 priority of promoting equal and fair access to opportunities, we are accelerating our SMME development.
The SMME summit that was held in 2007 was able to identify gaps, stressing the importance of harmonizing our institutional arrangements as government, in order to maximize the impact of support mechanisms. We are also still in the process of conducting research on functionality of small enterprises, after which, our current SMME database will be increased. We will also support the SMME’s operating in the 10 government targeted areas, as identified by the President in Business Unusual Programmes.
We undertook to support and sustain our SMMEs by ensuring that the turn around time in payment to SMMEs for the services rendered is decreased from between four and three months to thirty (30) days. We are happy to report that in all cases where invoices are submitted on time with all required supporting documents, the thirty days target time line for payment has been achieved. We do need to decrease this current timeline and take further appropriate measures as part of the business unusual.
We have registered a total of 962 SMMEs on our database in order to expose them to investment opportunities. Out of the 962 SMME’s on our database across all sectors, the province has thus far funded a total of 23 startup enterprises to the tune of R4,8 m creating 149 jobs.
In addition, through our normal day-to-day procurement processes, we have succeeded in supporting and sustaining black-owned companies in various sectors such as Construction, Tourism, Security services and general services to the value R200m, of which 22% was allocated to female-owned companies.
I want to encourage emerging and functional SMME’s to continue making use of support structures such as SEDA, Ntsika, IDC , Umsobomvu and others to strengthen business development further.
Strategic Agreements with BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries
The global economy is currently undergoing extraordinary changes in terms of economic transitions, which have positioned the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) in the forefront of the changing global economic status quo.
These countries are currently four of the fastest growing economies that are beginning to change the global economic status quo.
The significance of these global economic shifts is that South Africa has recognized the evolution of the world economies by beginning to align our country to these emerging markets for our benefit. The international agreements that have emanated from our national government’s interactions with the BRIC countries, have afforded the NW Province an opportunity to benefit in terms of knowledge and expertise to expand the growth and development capacity of our province.
We will be concluding some provincial agreements in the form of MOUs with some of the BRIC countries namely, the New Delhi Province of India and the Hennan Province of China as part of implementation of our National agreements with these respective BRIC countries.
The province will also be benefiting from the expertise of NSIC, a company that has been established by India for establishing and aiding SMME’s. We are therefore seizing remarkable opportunities to share information and learn from countries that are already mastering the art of growth and development. This is a path that we will be able to travel with greater ease by learning key growth and development mechanisms that are already successful in the BRIC countries.
We continue to benefit in a reciprocal manner from our partnership arrangements with Kronoberg County of Sweden, Finland, Manitoba of Canada, Cuba, Japan and Russia. Our Municipalities that include Tlokwe – County Vaxjo in Sweden, Ngaka Modiri Molema District – City of Sao Poalo in Brazil and Chobe District Municipality in Botswana, Bojanala Platinum District – City of Lahti in Finland and City of Moscow in Russia. Others, which include Naledi Municipality – with the district of Assen in Holland, also continue to benefit from relationships with other Municipalities at global level.
I believe that we have thus far successfully waded through the murky waters of underdevelopment in order to touch the various priority areas that we have identified since 1994. In this term of governance, we have managed, to some extent, to create the short term interventionist approach to job opportunities through private investments and governmental programmes that were created by EPWP projects. Social Development Cluster Priorities Education Infrastructure
Madam Speaker, we are still continuing with our school building programme which forms part of broader provision of access to education for all our children in the province. We will continue to renovate old schools, build new schools where necessary, construct mobile class rooms, provide scholar transport and establish mega schools as part of access to education.
During this past financial year, we repaired 54 storm damaged schools, constructed 125 mobile classrooms. The school infrastructure programme continues as announced in 2004 as part of our 2014 targets. In terms of our overall support to educational infrastructure programmes, we have renovated 108 schools and built more than 31 new schools since 2004. The programme will continue.
Clinics
We have thus far completed a total of 38 clinics since 2004. This programme will continue within the parameters of well analyzed needs across the province.
Hospital Revitalization
We have completed the Swattruggens old Hospital, Moses Kotane and Vryburg will be competed during the coming financial year. Extensions of Christiana and Bloemhof including Doctors quarters have been completed.
Rural Health Center
As a province we have identified the need to develop skills in rural medicine to bring health care closer to our people, as well as to create a pool of health professionals who would specialize in rural medicine. To this effect, we have already concluded all the necessary legal documents and currently finalizing all the necessary plans of setting up a Centre of Excellence, with the University of Witwatersrand Medical School and a British non profit organization known as Ameca who will be our key partners in this project. We believe this project will enhance the capacity of the medical personnel to respond health concerns of rural communities.
Secure Centers
The two secure centers that we undertook to establish in Mafikeng and Klerksdorp have been completed. Further elaboration on the benefit derived from such secure and other social centers in dealing with our existing social challenges like substance abuse, child support etc will be elaborated upon by the relevant cluster MECs Educating our Nation
Madam Speaker, Steve Biko once said that “the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”. By controlling and inhibiting the development of black intellectual capacity, our people were essentially confined to low skills areas of employment, with limited opportunities to move beyond the parameters of growth and development set in place by the oppressor. There was thus a direct link between education and the stagnating economic status of our people.
We therefore recognize the importance of human capital as a catalyst for development. We are cognizant of the fact that the intellectual capacity and the sustained development of skills and expertise are critical for the growth of our economy.
In the context of our developmental state, the strengthening of our human capital to enhance the state’s capacity to accelerate service delivery therefore continues to be a key priority.
In this regard, our collective participation in ASGI-SA and its JIPSA sub-programmes remains to be the critical pivotal point of coherence, in terms of our efforts to skill our youth and lift the burden of illiteracy that breeds and deepens underdevelopment.
We will also provide resources to further improve the remuneration level of educators and address the need for support staff to lift the enormous burden that comes with educating our nation.
Early Childhood Development
The ECD programme in the province is managed by the Department of Education which is responsible for training and for Grade R programmes in the foundation phase. Grade R is the first year of compulsory education. The department of Social Development is responsible for ECD programmes for children from birth to 4 yrs. These activities are based on the Education White Paper 5 (2001) on ECD. The two departments work in close collaboration on these programmes.
In 2007 fifty schools from quintile 1 status were identified for Grade R (5-6yr olds) expansion as part of a pilot. The purpose of the pilot was to benchmark the norms for funding and support. An additional 300 schools will be added to the expand Grade R provision in 2008. Each school will have basic resources, equipment and learning and teaching support materials.
A subsidy budget has been allocated to all four regions to subsidize Grade R. The professional support services regional officials, the ECD field workers and the ECD officials from head office, they are cooperating to monitor to monitor ECD centres as planned. Head office monitors progress through monthly ECD/GET Professional Support Forum meetings.
Existing Community based, non profit making ECD centres catering for children from birth to 4 yrs of age are currently migrating to Social development is in terms Education White paper 5 of 2001 and this will be finalised in 2010. No-Fees Schools
We have been able to fund learners in the quintile 1 (poorest schools in the province) and will extend funding and support to complete inclusion of quintile 2 schools during this year, which will put us at 40% out of target of 60% by 2009.
Matriculation Pass Rate
The NW was one of the two provinces whose matriculation pass rate had increased. We congratulate the Department of Education and teachers for the hard work they have done for this year. I want to further congratulate all our matriculants who passed their exams. I also want to congratulate all the top performing schools in our province, for keeping standards of excellence that continue to make us proud.
We would especially like to congratulate those learners from Khutsong and commend parents and community members who supported the attendance of the camp organized by government in Taung. They did it under trying circumstances. Mathematics and Science
Ten more schools have been added to the 50 nationally identified Dinaledi schools to bring the total number of Dinaledi schools in the province to 60. These schools have been supplied with study guides, booklets containing past question papers, and the department is busy refurbishing the laboratories. Learners in Dinaledi schools received an additional 100 calculators this year.
In 2006, a hundred more matriculants passed mathematics at higher grade, and eighty three more learners passed science at higher grade. In 2007 all high schools in the province were supplied with science equipment that will enable schools to perform 90% of experiments in the syllabi. Educators have been trained on how to use these apparatus by sponsoring companies.
Farm and Rural Schools
As we undertook last year, the third mega school is being established in the Southern Region. The department gazetted the names of 130 schools that are to be merged in 2008 to maximize the provision of quality education. This was done after consultation with stakeholders. The Farm and Rural School Strategy is currently being implemented whereby, comprehensive information on farms schools e.g. learner numbers, educator numbers, etc is being collected.
Scholar Transport
Ladies and gentlemen, Winston Churchill once said “there is no better investment than putting milk in the babies.” I concur.
Our province has opted to invest in transporting 11 751 farm learners to school on a daily basis. This project started with a pilot in the Lichtenburg/ Coligny areas with some 5397 learners transported on a daily basis. We want to extend this programme to other areas in the province.
The Provision Comprehensive Health Care
Madam Speaker, the burden of disease has the potential to bring any nation to its knees. We have seen with the spread of HIV/Aids how fragile life is and how the loss of skilled people can potentially affect the stability of our nation both in terms of mortality rates and the consequent loss of skills. However, our provincial department of health has ensured momentous response, in order to deal more effectively with the most pressing health issues which, amongst others, includes keeping under control the spread of HIV/Aids. We will continue the implementation of the comprehensive plan to combat HIV and Aids, as informed by an updated national comprehensive strategy. Other key interventions in our health battle plan include the enhancement of healthy life styles, which every citizen must prioritise as a critical preventative measure.
We will continue combat the HIV pandemic by increasing ARV service points in order to make ART’s more accessible to those who need them. We will also increase the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission uptakes and reduce the incidence of syphilis in pregnant women.
Tuberculosis has become rife in the province and requires vigilant and decisive action to cure and keep it under control. The department will therefore also focus on combating (TB) particularly in response to the Multi-Drug Resistant TB.
We will continue to increase the number of unemployed youth placed on internships and learnerships, in order to continue imparting critical skills to our youth.
We will also issue more assistive devices to disabled patients and increase access to health care centers.
Food Security and Nutrition
Madam speaker,
An amount of R6m has been set aside for Food Security. Due to discussions with the youth structures regarding implementation of the National Youth Service, the project has delayed. All beneficiaries have been identified and thus far an amount of R2m has been spent. The project has since 2003 delivered household agricultural food production packs and associated infrastructure to a total of 9972 households, which has made a big difference in their lives.
Our priority as government is therefore to continue pushing back the frontiers of poverty and hopelessness.
Youth Participation in National Programmes
The vulnerability of our youth to disease and susceptibility to alcohol and substance abuse is perpetuated by the fact that our youth are often either unemployed or have no opportunities to participate in meaningful activities.
The National Youth Service Programme will therefore enrol 30 000 volunteers in various community development activities and increase youth participation in national programmes that enhance social cohesion.
National Youth Development
Madam Speaker, with regard to Youth Development, the Government will be developing a “NW Youth Vision 2014” during 2008 which seeks to:
• Identify priority areas for youth development;
• Targeting specific categories of youth;
• Specify co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation to be used to assess the overall impact of the Strategy on a regular basis;
As indicated in the last address, we committed to enroll at least 1 000 unemployed youth into the National Youth Service, and we are delighted, Madam Speaker, to report that the programme has managed to skill 1 040 unemployed on through EPWP, Conservation Management, Heritage Management, ICT, ABET Facilitators, Road Safety Management and Construction. This year, our target is to enroll 2 000 more unemployed youth.
Notwithstanding challenges, young people are an essential core of the province’s human capital. Their actions today provide the future picture of the developmental path of the province. They are a cradle of future development prospects on which the continued existence of the province heavily lies.
Understanding that the youth are our future, we will continue with these empowerment programmes that benefit the youth.
Persons with Disabilities
The province is striving towards improving accessibility for people with disabilities to all government buildings. We are currently subsidizing 13 homes for people with disabilities, and these homes employ 600 people. Hospitals and other Health facilities offer free health policy for people with disabilities. The province has also established special schools equipped with special assistive devises and trained master facilitators on Braille and mobility for approximately 2000 learners. We have also extended more bursaries to disabled learners.
Governance Cluster Making Local Government Work Better For our People
The initial assessment of Project Consolidate at the end of 2006 pointed to the need to institutionalise the lessons from this initiative within government generally. These lessons directly contributed to the adoption of the 5 Year Local Government Strategic Agenda (2006 – 2011) which focuses on three strategic priorities and five key performance areas:
Vacancies and Performance Management
The vacancies in the management ranks at various municipalities that were previously reported on, have now mostly been filled. Currently, only one municipal manager vacancy exists. Furthermore there was a slight increase reported in the number of vacancies for other Section 57 managers from early 2007 to the end of 2007. This needs to be given the utmost attention, ensuring compliance to the competency framework regulations. It should be acknowledged that the gazetting of the Municipal Performance Regulations in 2006 has not had the full desired impact on the number of Municipal Managers that signed performance agreements. In general, compliance remains poor.
Municipal Transformation and Institutional Development
The general assessment is that in the majority of municipalities in the Province have made significant progress in establishing and entrenching core municipal systems, processes and strengthening their overall institutional capability. This is reflected in a number of key areas:
Municipal IDPs were legislated in 2000 in the Municipal Systems Act. The 2007/8 financial year is the first year that there is a 100% adoption rate of IDPs in municipalities. Most of these rated as medium to good products. Hands-on support is being rendered to those still ailing to ensure that there is overall compliance to the IDP Credibility framework.
A Brief Assessment of Project Consolidate:
In January 2006, the Project Consolidate approach was incorporated. A key indicator to measure the impact of this approach is the extent and nature of hands-on support that was mobilised and provided to the targeted municipalities.
By the end of 2007, a total of 13 experts in the engineering, finance and planning, were deployed to Project Consolidate municipalities. This was done through the valuable partnerships in the Siyenza Manje initiative of the DBSA and SAICE which have undoubtedly played an invaluable role in this regard.
As provincial government, we need to increase our pace and act more actively in order to ensure the institutionalization and sustainability of the hands-on approach to supporting local government. It should be acknowledged that the sustainable institutionalization of the hands-on approach is dependent on how we act within the context of a developmental state. We have commissioned the IDT to strengthen and implement in partnership the support packages to local government, particularly ailing municipalities. Disestablishment of Cross Boundary Municipalities
In line with the provisions of the Constitution’s Twelfth Amendment Act in 2005 the entire local municipal area of Merafong was fully incorporated into the North West Province, while areas within Tshwane Metro have been included into Gauteng Province and Phokwane, Moshaweng, Ga-Segonyana Local Municipalities, including the whole of Kgalagadi District Municipality have been included into Northern Cape Province.
Following the signing of the Implementation Protocols, service level agreements were entered in to, in order to give effect to the actual handover to the receiving province. Joint Provincial Executive Councils with Northern Cape and Gauteng were convened for formal handover. This process has been completely finalised with the Northern Cape.
In Gauteng, we have also completed the handover process. It is however noteworthy to indicate that a dedicated support is being given in phases in the form of the Merafong Relief Plan.
The insurmountable task facing us is the identified long term project of relocating the 18 000 households from the dolomitic area, which requires over R4 billion (according to preliminary assessments).The province has already submitted the request to the Minister of Provincial and Local Government to declare the area a national disaster in terms of provisions of the Disaster Management Act. The North West Province has been in the forefront of adequate reporting in terms the public sector requirements. We are happy to announce that all qualifying Heads of Departments have submitted their performance agreements to the Public Service Commission in the last year, although some departments did not meet the May deadline. In that regard we have achieved a 100% submission, which is well above the national average of 62%
We want to ensure that all municipal performance agreements are submitted in the same manner. By May every year, and within the two months of the beginning of the financial year all, local government levels of senior management should have filled their key performance agreements with the relevant authorities and the Public Service Commission will monitor.
We are also happy to announce that:
• all 292 senior managers have submitted their financial disclosures, also 100% in this regard, well above the country average of 80% • all Heads of Departments in the province have been evaluated consistently for the last five years. This year the last qualifying HOD’s will be evaluated by the end of March. Once again we can proudly inform the legislature and the people of the North West that we have also performed above the national average of 53%
Traditional Leaders
Madam Speaker, as our commitment in 2007, we have made good progress in strengthen the institution of Dikgosi. The following are the major achievements of the year under review:- • The two Local Houses of Dikgosi in Bojanala Platinum and Ngaka Modiri Molema are up and running, • We have made funds available for payments of sitting allowances for traditional councilors, • Dikgosi are participating in all municipal councils where we have traditional leaders
Madam Speaker, other details will be provided in the Office of the Premier’s Budget speech.
I am pleased to inform the House that Bahumagadi are also starting to organize themselves so that they can start to play their traditional role in the development of their communities. During the course of this year, they will host their second conference where they will formally launch their structure and adopt their constitution. Kana Motswana a re “mmangwana o tshwara thipa kafa bogaleng”
Women
Madam Speaker, the Public Service Commission declared the North West as the leading province with more women in leadership positions currently standing at 33,4% of senior positions. In the past Local Government Elections, we achieved 52% women representation in councils. We are proud to say that women occupy influential positions in the provincial government and play an important role in decision making processes. Opportunities previously limited to men are no longer their exclusive preserve. We are therefore encouraged by the results of the 2007 Stats SA Community Survey, which is an independent confirmation that we are indeed making progress in the process of improving the lives of women. This clearly shows that we are serious about women empowerment and emancipation. Whilst we have registered much progress in the of women empowerment, challenges still remain. We must collectively renew our pledge to continue building a better life for all women. Our programme for women emancipation and empowerment will continue.
Entrenching a Culture of Participatory Democracy Thusong Service Centres (MPCCs) Madam Speaker, our commitment to bring government closer to where people live and to make government services more accessible to our people remains firm and unshakeable. In this regard, I am pleased to report to this House that we have delivered on the undertaking we made last year to launch two MPCCs (Thusong Service Centres) in Rustenburg and Kgetleng Local Municipalities by April. Today, our people in Swartruggens and Monakato can access government services in close proximity to where they live.
We are therefore on track in meeting the Presidential deadline of having one MPCC per local municipality by 2014. We will launch at least two more Thusong Service Centres in Bojanala and Bophirima by the middle of this year. Izimbizo Consistent with the objective of promoting direct and unmediated interaction between government and the citizenry, we will continue to strengthen and intensify our imbizo programme.
Over the last few years, we have noticed the overwhelming enthusiasm with which ordinary people across the province embrace the imbizo concept. They see it as a trusted forum because it brings the executive into direct interaction with them.
Through the imbizo programme, we have been able to witness that while basic services have reached millions, there are many who still need them.
The imbizo programme can therefore undoubtedly be seen as a catalyst that drives the improvement of government performance.
Energy Issues Eskom Power Crunch
The electricity crunch that we are currently undergoing, is posing many challenges to all sectors of our society, including the all business sectors in our society. I therefore immediately want discourage alarmist responses that only serve a destructive purpose. We must calmly find the mechanisms to deal with the challenge before us instead of fueling sentiments of fear and panic.
In response to this, we have established a Committee comprising of representatives from SALGA, Districts municipalities, the governance cluster chair, Economic development as well as the SG for Health.
This Committee will develop and deliver common messages about both supply and demand issues as a way to influence and manage behavioral change to use electricity sparingly and prevent compromising the well being of our economy in the process.
Economic Development and Infrastructure Cluster
2010 FIFA World Cup
Madam Speaker, in less than two years, our province will have the honour of hosting one of the greatest sporting spectacles. Let me declare loudly and boldly, on behalf of our people, that as a province and a country we are firmly on track. We are ready to deliver to the world and our people the best World Cup ever!
My confidence is derived from the excellent work already done by the working teams on the eight pillars established in our province to lead our 2010 efforts. We are certain that by the end of November this year, we shall have completed the expansions that are being made at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg.
We have begun with roads construction and all other necessary preparatory work. The progress we have made thus far tells one bold story – that indeed Africa’s time has come and North West is ready! I am certain that the people of Rustenburg and North West in general have the necessary capacity, commitment and enthusiasm to make a success out of the 2010 spectacle. The MEC for Arts, Culture and Sports will give full details hereof.
I have no doubt that when the FIFA inspection team comes to the province next week, they too, will declare: Indeed, Africa’s time has come! South Africa is ready! North West is ready! Rustenburg is ready! Let the games begin!”
Intensifying the Fight Against Crime and promoting Social Cohesion
Crime remains a challenge we all face and must collectively solve. Societal problems of theft, armed robbery, abuse of children and women, fraud and corruption etc. continues to plaque our communities. The 2007/8 National Report reveals that the North West Province improved its fight against crime albeit minimal. The National Target for the reduction of crime as part of ‘The Fight Against Crime Campaign’ registered a reduction of 6.9% as opposed to the target of 7%. Whilst our performance shows improvement, we must strive to increase our fight and create safer neighborhoods.
In the coming year, innovated measures will be introduced to yield greater community participation; increase recruitment of additional SAPS and Traffic members; improve resource allocation and prudent use thereof; and last but not least, enhance coordination within the Justice Cluster.
The nation and the province were equally shocked by the horrendous acts of brutality displayed in the Skielik murders. The task of building a more cohesive society is enormous and requires greater commitment from all sectors in our society to stand together in fighting the scourge of societal disintegration and hate. None of us can derive any benefit from feelings of mutual hatred in our nation. The Skielik murders have sparked a racially-inclined debate that has polarized our people even more. Our social cohesion efforts need to be intensified in order to bring healing not only to the Skielik Community but also to the broader NW society that has been affected by these murders. I want to emphasize that we should not allow the horrendous and brutal acts of one individual to crucify an entire community. The law will run its course and deal appropriately with perpetrators of all crimes that take human life in such as unfeeling way.
Through the establishment of a unit tasked with the promotion of moral regeneration and social cohesion in our province, a platform has now been created where all formations in society, in the richness of their diversity, can sit together under a morula tree, and seek solutions to critical moral concerns of our society. While we celebrate the gains of our democracy, we also recognize that in the past few years we have seen some unpleasant incidences, which include domestic violence, abuse of children, victimization of the elderly, discrimination of persons with disabilities, attacks of racist nature, ritual killings, breakdown of discipline in schools, and acts like that.
The establishment of this programme on moral regeneration has enabled government to join hands with social partners to ensure that we forge effective partnerships for realizing moral renewal and social cohesion in all our communities.
Lenaneo le la go busetsa botho mo bathong, le thusitse puso go tlhaloganya botoka matshwenyego a baagi ba lebaganeng nao mo ba agileng le go dira teng, ebong matshwenyego a a amanang le boitsholo jwa batho ka kakaretso. Re tshwere dipuisano le baagi (community dialogues) go ralala profensi ka 2007, ka maikaelelo a gore le bone ba nne le seabe mo go diriweng ga the Charter of Positive Moral Values.
Ka lenaane le la di community dialogues, bakgweetsi ba di taxi, baithuti mo dikolong, balemi, Magosi, ba ditumelo tse di farologaneng, bomme ba Mekgatlho ya di Kereke, bana ba ba dulang mo mebileng, gammogo le bagolegwa, ba utlwana ka bongwe fela jwa pelo go aga sechaba se mo go sone batho botlhe ba tlotlanang, ba utlwelanang botlhoko, sechaba se se tlotlang botho jwa motho le seriti sa gagwe, tota sechaba se se gananang le maitsholo a a bodileng. Re lebogela ditshwaelo tsa botlhe ba ba ntseng le seabe mo dipuisanong tse, le dikgakololo tsa bone.
Under the Support Programmes for Institutions and Communities, we joined hands with the community and leadership of Pella Village in the Moses Kotane Munipality, to bring about healing in a community that was affected by a series of ritual killings. As part of the Moral Regeneration programme, the province has launched the Ethical Leadership Project in October 2007, through which we seek to inculcate ethical values and consciousness among those who have leadership responsibilities. The promotion of ethical leadership, we believe, is an important contribution towards entrenching good governance and combating corruption. This programme will be rolled out in the next financial year.
We are also engaging with municipalities with the intention of establishing moral regeneration projects within their constituencies.
Again, Honourable Speaker, we are in discussion with our social partners and the relevant Chapter Nine institutions in the province, with the aim of finalizing a strategy for combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. All these we do as our contribution towards building a society in which all of us can enjoy the fruits of our democracy.
We shall be convening a Provincial Summit on Moral Regeneration in the middle of April 2008, at which we will have a dialogue on the various social ills affecting us as well as other manifestations of moral decay that we see around us. The provincial strategy on moral renewal and social cohesion will be tabled and adopted at this event. I am already extending invitations to all of you, distinguished guests, so that together we can chart a way forward on the restoration of good values in our society.
Appeals
I want to appeal to our citizens to adhere to their civic duties by paying for their municipal services, in order to help municipalities to function efficiently. Citizens must also participate in their local governance structures.
We have managed to reduce accidents on our roads, so do not drink and drive. Our c
We have fought hard for this democracy and we have all earned the right to legally engage with our government. We should therefore refrain from damaging public property in an attempt to be heard, because we are only damaging our own heritage.
The youth are the future of our nation, let us all preserve our lives and conduct ourselves in a manner befitting future leaders. Abstain from abusing all kinds of substances and treat ourselves with the respect we know we deserve.
We urge the NW community to support the President’s call which is implemented by the department of education on the New Pledge for learners.
Acknowledgements
Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the sea of support and invaluable advice without which we would not have reached these heights of delivery of a better life for all. My special words of gratitude must go to my colleagues in the Executive Council for their continued support and leadership; the Advisor on Traditional Matters, Kgosi Motsatsi, the Economic Advisory Council, North West Research Council, House of Traditional Leaders, all Political Parties, all Heads of Departments; Senior Management and all Staff in the entire Provincial Government; My political home the ANC for providing progressive policies that have led this government to bettering the lives of the people.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and introduce to this august house the new Director General, Mme Nana Magomola. We wish you well and look forward to working with her. She certainly comes with vast experience and will make a valuable contribution to the province.
Last but by no means least, I would like to acknowledge the support of my family, my husband Richard, my mother, my children and the whole extended family. Individually and collectively, the work and dedication of all these people I have mentioned has ensured that the North West Province is counted among the pioneers in the continued improvement of the human condition and the ultimate carriers of our renewed pledge of a national partnership to build a better life for all.
CONCLUSION
Amongst a myriad of characters that populate Greek mythology, we find a man called Sisyphus. Sisyphus betrayed the Gods wishes by putting chains on death so that man should die no more. For his punishment, Sisyphus was arrested and detained for later execution. Before he could be executed, Sisyphus escaped. He was rearrested and, instead of being put to death, the Gods decided on a punishment more torturers that death.
They condemned Sisyphus to the task of rolling a huge rock up a steep mountain and rest it there; and from its sheer weight, the rock would roll back right to the foot of the mountain.
This incensed Sisyphus who walk down to the foot of the mountain being angry, disdainful and contemptuous! He would roll the rock all the way back to the top of the mountain, and predictably the rock would roll back.
In this myth, we see the whole effort of a body straining to raise the huge stone, to roll it, and push it up a slope a hundred times over; we see the face screwed up, the cheek tight against the stone, the shoulder bracing the clay-covered mass, the foot wedging it, the fresh start with arms outstretched, the wholly human security of two earth-clotted hands.
At the very end of his long effort measured by skyless space and time without depth, the purpose is achieved. Then Sisyphus watches the stone rush down in a few moments toward lower world whence he will have to push it up again toward the summit. He goes back down to the plain.
In a bizarre turn of thought, Sisyphus starts to see himself as the absurd hero; both as much through his passions as through his torture: His scorn of the Gods, his hatred of death, and his passion for life won him that unspeakable penalty in which the whole being is exerted toward accomplishing nothing.
I look at the work that we as government are engaged in, and I see the task of Sisyphus. Think of the eyesore that we call shacks. Can one completely eradicate them? One has to consider that self-respecting people stand in long lines to register for houses. Then finally they get them, only to leave them to set up another shack elsewhere, all in the chase of a job opportunity in another part of the country. Then the need for shelter reinvents itself in the form of another shack.
This endless task of Sisyphus is found in our endeavours to build schools, clinics, eradicating bucket systems, and a myriad of services of that nature; all these for masses of people who are like endlessly moving glaciers; and all in a pursuit for a better life!
A lesser person would speak of a curse of Sisyphus. He saw it as a task. To a lesser political party, our job is absurd and unachievable. To us it is a task most worthy of being pursued.
Whatever our challenges, whatever our limitations, we embrace the task of serving our people; guided by the noble mission of bringing A Better Life for All. This is the message that I want to leave with you today.
Bagaetsho, maloba ga se maabane! A tiro e tshabe diatla!
I thank you all!!! Ke a leboga!